Health Risks for Consumers of Forest Ground Cover Produce Contaminated with Heavy Metals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The activity of heavy metal (HM) mining and processing industries causes soils contamination with HM. The metals could be transferred from contaminated soils to edible plants and fungi. This study aimed to assess the content of Cd, Pb, Hg, As, and Ni in berries and edible mushrooms collected in the forests located near Miasteczko Slaskie zinc smelter and in the Lubliniec region, in the context of consumers' health risk.

Methods

The ET-AAS method was used to determine the content of Cd, Pb, Ni, and As. Mercury concentration was determined using the CV-AFS method.

Results

The studies showed high levels of Cd and Pb in the examined products. A statistically significant impact of the distance from the smelter on the Cd concentration in the berries was observed.

SUBMITTER: Niezgoda M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10892603 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature